As number 2 in the best atv winch buying guide, the smittybilt xrc winch is a heavy duty winch with better line speed and pulling power compared to older smittybilt winches. It also comes with 2 warranties: The lifetime mechanical warranty, and a 5 year warranty in the form of the electrical warranty. This makes it the best winch for top rated cars.
Why We Like It – Smittybilt 97495 XRC Winch Capacity
This heavy duty winch has a 9500 lb load capacity that can be used on vehicles such as a jeep wrangler. It’s also waterproof, has a 3-stage planetary gear system, is durable, and has a powerful motor that can help move heavier items.
- Waterproof
- Durable
- High load capacity
- No handlebar control
- Can potentially die from overuse
Performance
This winch has a higher load capacity than the champion 3000 lb atv utv winch, as the smittybilt has 9500 pounds while the champion has 3000 pounds. It features a 3 stage planetary gear system with a gear ratio of 161.28:1, a 4 way roller fairlead. It also comes with a remote control switch and a control box. There’s also a 6.6hp series wound motor, a powerful motor that’s more suitable for assisting in moving heavy objects.
Related: In case you want to acquire a different brand, check the Superwinch 1135220 Fairlead Handlebar Handheld review.
Design
This xrc gen2 winch is made of stainless steel and has a waterproof ip67 rating. The wire rope is a steel cable, unlike the Superwinch 1135220 Fairlead Handlebar Handheld winch, which has the option to use a synthetic rope. The amphibious motor has more pulling power compared to older smittybilt winches. Unfortunately, the mounting plate isn’t included, which is a necessity that should be installed before using the winch.
Value
It’s almost a hundred dollars more than the Superwinch 1130220 LT3000ATV Fairlead Handlebar Winch despite not having a mount plate included in its purchase. There’s a difference in maximum load capacity between the two winches, so the price could be determined by things such as the brake types. While the Smittybilt winch is durable, some parts are more vulnerable than others, such as the mounting system, as some reviews have reported that a part of that system can break or stop working.
Related: If you are looking for a highy reliable car, read this 2012 Kia Rio review
Smittybilt 97495 XRC Winch Capacity Wrap Up
The user should remember to buy that mounting plate first, and as long as the user doesn’t yank the cord, overwork the winch by doing things such as exceeding the maximum 9,500 pound rated line pull, and practices safety measures to both avoid harm and damage to any part of the winch, the winch should last.
